No need to comment, just my diary.
My mother has an Alzeimer for 5 years now, her memory has slowly and inexorably faded away, she can’t tell what happened 5 minutes ago but still remember what happened when she was a young woman.
Conversations are hard, so today I’ve decided to go to the cemetery of our village where she spent the last 50 years after her wedding with my father, trying to make her talk about my grand parents or cousins...
My mother is born in Paris where she spent her first 22years of life then came to south of France to marry my father.
This was not sad, she managed to say , unintentionally, very funny things, and was able to remember some people.
And I like going to cemetery, don’t know why.
I like cemeteries too. It's a brilliant way to get your mother talking about family history. My mother died when I was 15 and I never got to ask SO many things about her life. Never had a chance to know her as an adult. I'm glad you're there with your parents. You will never regret it.
@margonaut 15 yo is so young to loose your mum, it’s very sad, I understand what you say, I’ve been so lucky to spend so many time with mine, she has been a really good mother and a wonderful grandma, I cherish all my memories and its normal be there for our parents when they need ;) I hope my kids will do the same ;) I’m sure they will !
@vignouse pour l’instant ça ne se voit pas richard ;). Je suis certaine qu’il doit y avoir un facteur génétique: ma mère, la sœur de ma mère ,le père de ma mère et la grand-mère de ma mère ont tous eu la maladie d’Alzeimer, au lieu de m’inquiéter j’espère y échapper aussi... mais je compte faire un diagnostic très bientôt ...
Alzheimer’s/ dementia is hard for the family members. Nice you took her to a familiar place and talk about the past. Cherish the moment together. Did your dad have his surgery already?
Beautiful capture .
@dutchothotmailcom it was a lovely day and I think she appreciated it ( it’s hard to find what makes her happy now).
Surgery went well and my father should come back home next Friday , thanks for asking Esther.
A lovely capture, with the autumn flowers....I believe Alzhimers is the worst of diseases - my grandmother began to develop it, late in her life...she still knew all the family, but didn't remember eating or visiting with us.
Les vieux cimetières sont souvent plein de charme et celui que tu as photographié en est un exemple. En France le cimetière est souvent un lieu où les familles Ou amis se rencontrent (Mes souvenirs du 1er Novembre). C’est aussi un endroit calme et ombragé.
Je suis heureuse de lire que l’opération de ton papa soit une réussite.
Quelques fois la vieillesse des parents pose bien des défis mais la tendresse des enfants et leur patience les rendent moins ardus.
Interesting photo because it's so different than the neat and tidy cemeteries here. My mother too had Alzheimer's. A very sad disease. It takes the mind and then the body. My prayers are with you.
Both my parents died of cancer, too young to develop alzheimer, listening to my friends who have parents with this disease, I wouldn’t know what would be “ better”, I guess, there is no “ better” situation, it’s just life. One friend told me her mum would be at her best when the nursing home did an hour of old Dutch children’s songs ☺️
A photograph keeps a moment from running away and is the pause button of life ...
ps - my mom forgets as well, so l'll make her a family photobook this Xmas :)
Thank you for sharing your diary with us. My 90-year-old Mum has started dementia. We are at a stage where she understands that she forgets, which frustrates her to no end. I, too, love cemeteries for the peace and serenity. Lovely POV and leading line.
@corinnec oui moi aussi j’aime particulièrement ces vieux cimetières en France , avec ces allées défoncées par les racines de cyprès... et ses vieux caveaux hors d’âge .... lieu de recueillement mais aussi d’apaisement je trouve.
Merci pour tes gentils mots, je suppose qu’une partie de ta famille doit être en France et toi vivant aux US tu dois bien comprendre ce que la distance signifie ...
@pdulis so sad for your mother, you found the perfect gift for Christmas, today I was watching old photos with my mum and I could see her eyes smiling sometimes recognizing some events and people.
@randystreat thanks a lot for the prayers lovely Kathy, you also had experience the effects of that disease so you understand .. she’s here but not really here anymore ..
I like our old cemeteries too, they are places to pray but also places to calm down...
@kwind reading all the comments I realized so many people are affected by this disease, that incredible , I enjoy every minutes with my mom and her last flashes of lucidity , thanks Kim.
@momamo there is no “better” disease I agree Monique, both are terrible, when there is no cure at all, the best you can do is to be with them if possible.
I realized that what my mom likes the most for the moment is telling the same stories from her childhood so I let her say 50 times a day, asking for some more details, just because I think she is feeling good when saying it ..
@sprphotos thank you Sylvia , the first signs of the Alzheimer of my mother started 10years ago, now she is not capable to do elementary things alone , she is absolutely lost but rarely conscious of the fact she forgets.... three years ago she was conscious and was so sad and anxious ... it was terrible to see her anxiety, good luck with your grandmother and best wishes for your family
Such a devastating disease, my Mother-in-Law has it too. I’m sorry Corinne. I can imagine how hard it is for you. I’m so glad your mom smiled when she was holding your dog, that was precious.
I like walking through cemeteries too, so peaceful and reading all the headstones.
November 30th, 2020
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Beautiful capture .
Surgery went well and my father should come back home next Friday , thanks for asking Esther.
Je suis heureuse de lire que l’opération de ton papa soit une réussite.
Quelques fois la vieillesse des parents pose bien des défis mais la tendresse des enfants et leur patience les rendent moins ardus.
ps - my mom forgets as well, so l'll make her a family photobook this Xmas :)
Great that you are helping your mom - treasure these precious moments together
Merci pour tes gentils mots, je suppose qu’une partie de ta famille doit être en France et toi vivant aux US tu dois bien comprendre ce que la distance signifie ...
I wanted to give a vintage feeling to the photo to reflect my mood ;)
I like our old cemeteries too, they are places to pray but also places to calm down...
I realized that what my mom likes the most for the moment is telling the same stories from her childhood so I let her say 50 times a day, asking for some more details, just because I think she is feeling good when saying it ..
I like walking through cemeteries too, so peaceful and reading all the headstones.